Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-05-25
Soldiers Psalm.
THE TENT, THE MARCH, AND THE
VICTORY.
THE SERMON OF REV DIR. MOSES D. HoGl
AT THE LEE-CAAfP CHAPEL DEDICATION.

THE SERMON OF REV DIR. MOSES D. HoGl
AT THE LEE-CAAP CHAPEL DEDICATION.
The following is the sermon of DIR. Hoge
delivered last Sunday week at the dedica
tion of Lee Camp chapel:
Psalm lxxxiv., l-"How amiable are Thy
tabernacles, o Lord of Hostsr'
The S4th Psalm is the soldiers Psalm
1t is full of illusions to the tent, the march
the victory. 1t tells US of the shield beneath
which the imperilled find safety; of the sup
plies provided for the famishipg; of the re-
freshments promised to the way-worn and
weary; of the strength impaired to the en-.
feebled, and of the ultimate glory of the
Church militant under the guidance of the
Great Captain of Salvation.
The whole passage of ancient Israel from
Egypt to Canaan was a military march,
The life they led in the wilderness was
camp life. The ten tribes moved forward,
each under its own banner, but all under
the command of one leader, twice distin-
guished in this Psalm by the majestic title,
"Lord God of Hosts" ruling in the armies
of Heaven, marshalling His forces on earth
for the overthrow of his enemies.
So impressive was the sight that when
the hostile King of Moab ordered the trai
torous prophet Balaam to curse Israel, and
when from some commanding height he
caught view of the encampment spread
out beneath, in spite of himself he cried,
"How goodly are thy tents, o Jacob, and
thy tabernacles, D Israel.
But in the centre Of the camp there was
one tent conspicuous among all the rest.-
This was the holy tabernacle, which con-
tanned the ark and the mercy.seat with the
overshadowing cherubim and the shechinah
flaming with the glory of the Lord To this
tabernacle all the tribes came up to wor.
ship.
would not have been complete without it
1t was the source of their strength and
safety, of their peace and joy. It was theil
spiritual home, where they received theil
fathers blessing, and where they learned tc
regard Him as better Inheritance than
Canaan itself, with all its water-brooks and
fruitful wales and vine-clad hills.
BY natural and easy transition we ap-
ply this Psalm to the circumstances and to
the office of this hour. 1t does not suffice
for all the needs of the little band of war
impoverished veterans gathered here that
the gratitude of their countrymen has pro-
vided for them commodious central edifice,
with its surrounding array of comfortable
cottages, which we call ''The Soldiers
Home" That which completes and crowns
the work is the Soldiers chapel, which we
dedicate to-day. A camp like this without
chapel would be like a private home with
out family altar, like household without
religion. like heart without the recog-
milton Of God. 1t was we'll indeed to make
provision for the bodily necessities of the
manned and battle-scarred men, grown pre-
maturely decrepid and old, through the
privations and exposures of war, but there
are higher and more enduring needs than
those of the body for which provision is re-
quired. l know of nothing more impress
sive than the fact that the perishable clay
tenement which constitutes the physical
man is animated by an ethereal spirit, ra-
tional, accountable, immortal, destined to
survive not only the stroke of death, but
the shattering and. the destruction of the
whole material universe. As creatures of
earth and time we have many wants, and
for the comfort of natural life there are
many things desirable, but as candidates
for an eternal existence there is but one in
necessity for the soul-pardon
of sin, peace with God, preparation for
Judgment, and an eternity of glory.
attach as much Importance as any one
to the propriety of making all the provision
possible for the comfort of the
OLD CONFEDERATE SOLDIER.
who, remembering what his country was to
him and all that made it dear as the place
Of his birth and of his most hallowed as
sociations, the place where his mother lived
and where each returning spring renews
the grass and flowers which cover her grave,
The place where grew up the maiden of his
sarly love who became the mother of his
own children, the country whose laws pro-
tected him, the renown of whose patriots
and sages filled him with irrepressiblc pride,
and who, loving it because of ties like these,
lid for his country what he would have done
Tor his mother or his wife had her honor
been assailed or her safety imperilled, in
,pringing forward for its defence, in sacri-
icing ease, security, health, wealth, and
life, if need be, and counting the sacrifice
Is nothing in cause so sacred.
l pray for the coming of the day when
nations shall learn war no more, but while
Injustice, aggression, and disregard for the
rights and liberties of others determine the
policy of ambitious and unscrupulous courts
and cabinets, so long must the soldier march
in front of the civilization of the world for
It's protection and salvation.
Those who reap the benefits of his self
sacrifice must recompense him, not only
with their plaudits, but with their substan-
tial support when he can no longer provide
for himself. He has earned his right to
such recognition and reward by unmistaka-
BILE signs. 1t may be questioned whether
other men have done their duty; no one can
doubt him. The proof is there whenever
you look at him. The empty sleeve tells
The whole story; his battle-scarred face is
the demonstration.
Let it not be said that republics are more
than monarchies. Some mon-
arches, at least, are not ungrateful to the
soldier who has vindicated their honor by
land OF to the sailor who has fringed their
flag with glory On sea.
ON THE BANKS OF THAMES
below London lies the parliamentary bor-
ough of Greenwich, where Henry VIII. and
Queen Elizabeth were born. You may re-
member the account which Macaulay gives
of the origin of the magnificent home which
provided for her seamen there.
King William III. entertained most az
dent affection for his wife, Queen Mary,
and when she died he erected monument
to her memory, the noblest ever reared by
an English King. She had often suggested
to him the wish that was near her heart of
converting Greenwich Palace into retreat
for disabled seamen of the Royal navy.
After the great naval battle of La Hogue
thousands of brave men had returned to
England crippled, penniless, and homeless,
and her sympathy had been deeply stirred
by the spectacle. While she lived no step
had been taken to carry out her wishes, but
no sooner had she died than the King Or
dered Sir Christopher Wren to draft plan
for the erection of an edifice which should
supplant the old palace and form the no.
blest monument that ever rose on the banks
of the Thames. Forty-two disabled sea-
men were admitted the first year. The
number ultimately rose to 1000. For 160
years this institution continued to be the
home of disabled British seamen until the
system was changed for the outdoor PEN